Improvement in fanniwg-mills



any time gem i (Mi-o.

Letters Patent No. 83,312, dated October-20, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT IN FANNINQMLLS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part ofthename.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, JAMES P. PRESTON, of Monroe, in the county of Green,and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Fanning-Mills; and I do hereby declare that the fol:lowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof,

reference being had to the accompanying drawings,-. and to the lettersof reference marked thereon. which form a part of this specification, inwhich" g igure 1 is a longitudinal section of my fanning-mill, an

Figure 2 is a top view of thesame. Similar letters indicate like partsin both figures. My invention relates to certain improvements infannin'g-mills, hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanyingdrawings, A A are the side faces of the fanning-mill,supported in aisuitable frame, BB.

0 O is the fan-wheel, to the shaft G, of which arotary motion isimparted by means of the gear-wheels E F, or in any other suitable maer.

In my improved fanning-mill there are two sets of screens or riddlesemployed, one set, H I J, being situated above the other, K L, andboth'sets being inclined,

. but in opposite directions.

These screens are slid inv grooves, in the inner faces of the frame M,which carries them, the frame M being separate from the side faces ofthe mill A A, and being hung thereto by the spring-pieces N N, so as toallow a vibratory motion to the frame M, carrying the screens.

The vibratory motion is imparted to the. frame M, carrying the screens,by means of a earn, 0, on" the outer end of the fan-shaft, which worksin a'groove in. the lower end of a pin, P, attached to one end of alever, Q, pivoted to the frame, the other end of the lever beingconnected by a link, K, with the frame M.

S S are holes in the lever, by which its fulcrum may be changed, to varythe vibratory movement of the frame M, with its screens.

T T, fig. 2, are spiral springs, attached to the frame B of the mill,and also to the frame M. Theobject of these springs is to steady andgive an 'equable motion to the frame -M' when it is vibrated, asdescribed.

U is the hopper-screen, the openings in which are made small, butsufficiently large to allow of the escape- 'of cockle and fine dirt anddust, which pass out of the mill through thespout V, situatedimmediately below the hopper-scree v The screens H and I are of theordinary construction; but the lowerscreen J-isv constructed with theordinary wire grating under the screens H and I, to

which is attached the piece J, having holes, W X, of

different sizes,

This piece, J, made of metal or other suitable material, is situateddirectly over the spout Y, so that dirt, stones, or refuse matter,- toolarge to pass through the hopper-screen'or the openings in the screens HI, wilt-by gravity, pass down the holes W X into the s'po'utY, and fromthence out of the mill.

By this arrangement, I am also enabled to separate the wheat or rye, tobe fanned, from oats, as the grain of the latter, which is longer, willnot pass through the screens, but will pass out of the mill, with therefuse matter, through the holes W X and spout Y.

The grain to be threslied, after passing through the upper setofscreens, falls upon the screen K, and thence, through the spout oropeningZ, out of the mill, thoroughly cleaned.

' Any small or withered grains will pass throughithe screen K, andfallupon'the screen L, to .the front end of which is hinged the door a, keptclosed -'by the button a.

-When the mill is in operation, this door is left open,

so that the poorer quality of grain will pass through the'opening, andthus be separated from the better grain, which passes out through thespout Z.

I) is an adjustable feed-board, and an adjustable tailboard may also beused.

In cleaning grass-seed, the hopper-screen is dispensed with, and, inlieu of it, a board is employed.

0 is a hinged board, to govern the feed to the screens. I am aware thatan adjustable lever and cam have heretofore been employed to give avibrating movement to the screens of a fanning-mill, and I thereforedisclaim the employment of said adjustable lever andcam in but What I doclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The frame M, hung to the faces A A by the giving theyibratorymovement to the screens;

metallic strips, as described, in combination with the spiral springs,substantially as described.

2. The combination of the spout Z and screens K and L, the latterbeing'provided with the door a and.

button a, as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I -affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

- JAMES P. PRESTON. Witnesses:

S. M. ABBOTT, J OHN O. HALL.

